Hi Paula,

The "not much" part, was that I didn't grind or sand the weld beads much. Most of the weld beads are as I welded them. The only part I really had to taper down and shape was the butt. She originally had a real "Jaylo" ass (really wasn't becoming to the piece). Otherwise, I fancy using the MIG wire-fed tip, as a paint brush. Might sound kind of corny, but it's along the lines of the Chinese philosophy "wabi-sabi" - the quintessential Japanese aesthetic... It is a beauty of things imperfect. In other words, let it form naturally, according to it's true nature. I hope this makes sense.

Thank you for your compliments,

J.R.

PS: I've been too busy lately to work with my art... I sure do miss it, but I check in to see what you guys are doing. It grounds me.

You know JR, Jaylo might argue with you on that point.... ;)

as far as using the MiG as a paint brush, i know just what you're saying, although, i hadn't tried it in that way as you did... very ingenious of you....you use what ever means that you need to in order to create. I don't think it's wrong, stupid, or anything else to use what methods, materials that you have at hand to see your art come to life.... some might disagree.

I have really been wanting to do a sculpture, but just can't seem to pick my subject matter. How do you go about deciding on what to make?

If you can do some drawings in the evening, maybe in front of the TV or listening to some good music while you contemplate your next piece... that way you will still feel as though you're creating. Who knows, you might sketch out your next project....

Paula
Guthrie, MN

Paula,

"...picking the subject matter." There's the rub. I go ages between projects, looking for subject matter. I look everywhere. An artist friend told me the trouble with me is that I see too much (can't help it, I'm a retired cop). I'm tormented by the myriad of images... but I can't pick one, none speak to me, none stirs my soul.

Ayn Rand says: "It is an artist's sense of life that controls and integrates his work, directing the innumerable choices he has to make, from the choice of subject to the subtlest details of style."

I think the point is: one may look "without" for subject matter, but one needs to look "within" for it's interpretation. After all, art is but man's (the artist's) interpretation of our physical and spiritual world. It's not what we see, but how we see it that matters... our own unique version of reality. Josh (artmetal member) once said "Where one sees only scrap, I see a birds wing, a body, a claw or an eye of an animal."

"Art is a selective re-creation of reality according to an artist's metaphysical value judgments. Man's profound need of art lies in the fact that his cognitive faculty is conceptual, i.e., that he acquires knowledge by means of abstractions into his immediate, perceptual awareness. Art fulfills this need: by means of a selective re-creation, it concretizes man's fundamental view of himself and of existence." - Ayn Rand, The Romantic Manifesto (1969)

J.R.

Well put JR! I like your viewpoint of art and the artist!

taken from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/art

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
art1 /ɑrt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ahrt] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun

1. the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.

As you said JR, art should come from the heart and/or soul... a way of seeing to show another perspective on life.
In any case, i still very nice artistic piece!
Paula

Hi Paula,

The only way I would modify that definition, would be "according to [the artist's] aesthetic principles."

Then, in turn, viewers of the art would have their own unique interpretation according to their own aesthetic principles, experiences, and values, in accord with their own reality.

Thank you for your important contribution to what I think is a very poignant aspect of art... the true essence of art.

J.R.

Essence of art, yup. Smells like art to me...Hurry put it in a gallery so no one ever sees it..Hmmmm Brad

J.R. writ:

"...I see too much (can't help it, I'm a retired cop)."

Damn, another one? I just retired in April. Got my art degree thirty-five years ago and then spent most of my ensuing time as a cop. Finally back to the metalsmithing full-time and loving it. I *don't* miss the cop stuff at all, for some reason. Possibly because that last five years were spent as an administrator...yawn. (grin)

I agree with your concept of vision and inspiration, J.R. I often feel like I'm floundering for a solid idea to work on, while simultaneously being virtually asaulted with input from all around. The devil is in sorting the wheat from the chaff, eh?

That dancer is a damfine piece!

Rich

Rich,

I would have taken you more for an English or philosophy professor -- not a cop... you must have been one of the brass. I don't miss it either, but in my case, it was on patrol, ruled by politics. I only left a year ago... I'm still trying to get the cynicism out of my mind set.

And a "mind set" is what it's all about for me. At least for now. They say that cops have their own culture, their own identity... so do artists. I rather like this artmetal culture, the identity of an "interpreter," the mindset of an artist... and borrowing from you, the "sorter" of humankind.

Rich, thanks for your "Dancer" complement... that means the world to me.

J.R.

J.R.

I spent a lot of years on patrol, both in the States and here in the Virgin Islands. Also a lot of time in the detective bureau, both as an investigator and a forensic detective, and later as a supervisor. A few years ago I was transferred to the Comissioner's Office and became an administrator. Mostly because I could write complete sentences, I think. (grin)

We changed Governors here last November and I said that if his new Police Commissioner was a chump I was going to pull the pin. He was, and I did. I held on just long enough to get my Lt. rank, but not so long that I had to deal with the new chump. Timing is everything, isn't it? Hell, they'd have tossed me out like a used Kleenex in a couple years when I turn 60, anyway.

The art community is probably not much less insular than the cop community, in many ways, but it way more fun. And, it is a community where you are actually encouraged to be different, not ostracized or sanctioned for it.

It takes time to get over being a cop, but being an administrator sure greases the skids, I can tell you. I've been a civilian only a few months now and I already feel like one. Oh, some habits never go away, like not sitting with your back to a door or forgetting to check possible exits form any situation, etc. That stuff becomes so ingrained you never get over it. The "them v. us" mindset does fade pretty quickly though, if you let it. I quit carrying, (well, for the most part at least) and find it a relief, actually. I didn't think I would, but I do.

Life is good! Art makes it that way.

Rich

Very nice work on the armature. I was wondering how you got that particular sheen to it? In the picture it has a nice matte like sort of finish to it. Did you sand off the mill scale when you did this, leave it, or paint it later? Also I was wondering if the 1/4" rod you mentioned was just simple mild steel rod like you might find at Home Depot or Lowes.

Visitor,

First, thank you for your comments. To answer your question(s), yes, it is 1/4" mild steel rod that you could buy at Home Depot or Lowes. But the armature has no matte finish or paint, just raw steel... as is the finished product. Look at the next posting for the completed "Dancer."

Thanks again, J.R. Tamayo

Haven't seen or heard from you in a long time. I hope your time off was a good one. Now get back to work and show us some new pieces. We miss your presence here at ArtMetal. Hope all is well. Janet R.

Hi Janet,

Yea, I've been busy with my day job this summer. I missed my shop, and really missed you guys. Just have to get inspired with some subject matter. I've seen your latest stuff and it is awesome. You seem to be the busiest artist here!

Good to hear from you, J.R.